Purchased a 9’ epoxy Dewey Weber performer yesterday. Immediately headed to the beach with the tires smoking and hoping the wind hadn’t ruined the small swell we had (knee to thigh, occ waist+). I bought it as a summertime, small wave, point and shoot noserider. Granted this wasn’t the ideal waves to test a boards performance but I couldn’t believe how well it turned! Considering it’s over 23" wide and that GIGANTIC hatchet fin!!
I’m starting to shape my first board this week and I’m trying to get a handle on the principles of shaping before I start butchering foam. So could somebody exlain why something with such a wide tail and hatchet fin turn so well?
Could you be more specific? I surf an 11’ 0 with a very wide square tail. I switched from a Fins Unlimited 11" fin to the Dewy 13" hatchet. There was a very big change in the turning ability of that monster. Much easier, but I don’t know why.
I really don’t know why. I can just tell you from experience that it’s true. In small waves.
Yes rocker has a lot to do with it. Jim Phillips can tell you about that. He’s one of the most knowledgeable shapers in the world when it comes to rocker.
I do think that there is a relationship between the length of the board, the width of the tail and the size of the fin. I can’t give you specific measurements or ratios but I can pretty well tell by eyeballing it whether it will work or not.
I had a guy bring a board in for repair. It was a 9’6 Surfboards Hawaii noserider shaped by Jim the Genius. The guy said it didn’t turn real well. I flipped it over and he had a little cutaway fin on it. I sold him a 9 1/2" fin with a wide base. He was amazed. I’ve had the same thing happen with other customers and other boards. My friend had a 10’ Yater Spoon and we swapped boards out in the water. It was all squirelly and didn’t turn or trim. I flipped it over and sure enough. A 6" cutaway.
Generally on a 10’ board I’ll put a 10" fin. On a 9’ I’ll put a 9". If the 10 footer has a narrow tail or a pintail, I’ll put a 9" fin. They seem to work pretty good in small waves. They work ok in larger waves too but you can go to a cutaway fin in a larger wave since you’re getting your speed from gravity and not from the drag created by your fin.
The faster you are going, the easier your board will be to turn. A bigger fin will make your board go faster in small waves. It will also help you get around soup sections.
I know a lot of guys argue with me on this but I’ve spent a lot of time riding the small gutless waves here on the East Coast and I know what works for me.
I’d have to agree with most of what you are all saying. Hi my name is Jerry O’Keefe and my company is Soul Stix Surfboards. I’ve also been shaping all of Dewey Weber surfboards for the last 10 years. It is always a good feeling to here people stoked about a board I shaped even if you are a pan handling kook! HA ha anyway the tail rocker combined with the curvy hip at the tail and don’t forget the roll from rail to rail all work in unison to to loosen up the Performer. Thanks for the killer feed back!
It makes sense to me that a large fin gives you something to drive/pivot on in small surf. I’m going to repeat all of this at the local surfshop…but I won’t give any of you guy credit. I’ll look like a genius.
I can’t wait for some waves I can get somemore speed. I would like to know when the gaint hatchet fin starts to become a liability.
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